4/8: Day 2 Tokyo

I woke up at 9.50am. Tomoyo left for her dance society practice at 9am and left me her keys for the day. I quickly showered, reheated the porridge we had from the night before but it didnt taste great so I threw it away and took 2 Chipsmores with me to munch along the way towards Takadanobaba station as breakfast. It really does take a long time from Tomoyo;s place to the station. 15minutes if you walk real quick and 20 if you take a stroll - or longer. I took 15minutes cause I was supposed to meet up with Mune at 10.30. I got there a couple of minutes earlier and tried to topup my Suica (London:s equivalent of Oyster) but couldn:t - the machine said please ask for assistance. I knew it was because the day before some lady rushed through the same entrance/exit as me and she probably managed to touch her SUica before I did and so my SUica wasnt touched? Anyhow, I met Mune who didnt exactly look like I remember, but he found me just fine. Munenori Matsuo is a guy I met while Faeez, Lutfi and I were having dinner at Marrakesh last Easter. He was traveling alone and I later found out that he just got back from a month in South America where his camera got stolen TWICE and where his money in his hotel room was also stolen. Mune helped me solve my Suica card problem and then we headed to some fast food joint where he treated me to some Starbucks like iced coffee which was oishii and we started talking about my plans so far. It was as if we:ve known each other for ages. I didnt feel awkward at all spending an hour there with him which was great. He just finished his part time job at 10am. He worked all night. Probably from 8pm. I really dont understand. A real part time job at an architecture firm I think. He just graduated from Waseda last spring. Mune gave me 2 pieces of articles which I believe he found in a magazine. They were local rail passes of 5 days which cost about 11,500Yen and you can use the local trains to get to wherever you want for 5 consecutive days which is really cheap. There was another pass for 5 days for 10,000Yen (1000Yen is 4.50GBP/RM30) for the northern region if Im not mistaken. I was explaining to him that my plan really depends on what the language school says later that day. If I can get into the language school, I will only be traveling around Japan for 2 weeks and I will have to search for a cheap place to stay at for the next 3weeks as papa will be in Tokyo in the 4th week of school. Otherwise, I;d be able to travel for a very long time and he was basically planning all my different options out for me and telling me how many days I should spend at each place, etc. I told him I needed a picture of him to which he quickly replied Hazukashii = embarrassing haha. I didnt really care, I snapped a picture anyway before we left. He wanted to help me find a plug so I can use my laptop cause the plug points in Japan are the 2 point really small things but we were running out of time as I had to meet up with Yohei at Asakusa at 12pm. He took me to a nearby bookstore and was looking for a travel book and showed me some pictures along the way. It was 11.40am by the time we parted at the Takadanobaba station where I was going to take the Tozai line to Nihombashi and change to the Ginza line to get to Asakusa while Mune was going to search for some climbing equipments for his climbing trip later that day. He said he and a friend were going to climb Japan:s second highest mountain 3100m. CRAZY but super cool.

And so there I was alone in the metro in Tokyo. Nothing particularly exciting, just like any other underground in the world - London, Barcelona, ok maybe not Paris cause the ones in Paris are quite dodgy. I was REALLY late and I didnt really know which way I was going. And so I asked three girls nearby Sumimasen, Kaminari-mon wa doko desuka? and from whatever they said I just walked straight and there it was on the right! I scanned for Yohei and it took me a couple of minutes before I spotted him and Hana-chan. I was so happy to see Yohei again cause he has been so helpful, probably the most helpful person so far. Anyway Kaminari-mon, or Thunder Gate was named for its two vigorous guardian gods of Thunder and Wind. We then walked along Nakamise-dori, a long street of little shops selling just about everything a tourist would want to buy - lanterns, yukata, fans, tiny traditional dolls, senbei rice crackers, a lot of food, etc. I took so many pictures, even one of a water container with fish toys moving in it cause it reminded me of the drama where Kame was trying to get the fish for the girl.

We finally got to the end of Nakamise-dori where there was another huge gate called Hozo-mon, a double-storied treasure gate sheltering even more imposing guardians which led us to the entrance of the temple grounds. On the right was a row of wooden boxes and Yohei said we should go do that. You pay 100Yen, you shake this metal hexagon-like thing and out comes a chopstick like thing with a number on it. Then you search for the same number on the many little wooden boxes and you take out a piece of paper from the box which tells your luck for the day I guess. Apparently there are only 6 different ones and Yohei got the Best Luck. There was some kind of a clothes hanging thing on our right and Yohei explained that if you got the Bad luck ones, you have to tie it around that clothes-hanging like thing. And so I shook the hexagon metal thing and out come chopstick like no.91. Guess what it says???

No:91 GOOD FORTUNE (According to Yohei, it is the normal good one. his was the highest ranking)
Bad fortune in the past will change to be good, just like the crescent grows to be full, your luck will grow to be good to the full.
From the palace in the clouds, wealth and treasure will come to you.
Make haste in doing whatever you want.
The sooner the better.

*Your wish will be realized. You should be righteous.*The sick person will get well.*The lost article will be found.*The person you are waiting for will come soon.*Building a new house and removal are both good.*It is good to make a trip.*Both marriage and employment are good.

Ok. The thing is there are 2 sides of the paper. Yohei, Hana-chan and I never looked on the other side which had the English version as well as the easier Japanese version. Yohei managed to translate the difficult Chinese characters or probably old Japanese phrasing words to tell me that my bad fortune is going to change for the better and at that time I was contented with that. I only read the English translation when Tomoyo got back to the room that night after 11pm AFTER I:ve met K-san *The person you are waiting for will come soon.* Subhanallah. Subhanallah. Subhanallah. And how about *It is good to make a trip.*!!!! and of course Bad fortune in the past will change to be good, just like the crescent grows to be full, your luck will grow to be good to the full. ok anyway it:s really just amazing.

After that, we headed towards a large, bronze incense bowl where Yohei explained was the tradition for people to waft the pungent `breath of the gods' over themselves before approaching the stone-flagged prayer floor of Senso-ji's main hall. There was a fountain on its right where you were supposed to wash your hands also as an act of cleansing before entering the temple. Exactly like what the guide book says, there is nothing much to see inside - the little Kannon said to be just 6cm tall is hidden from view but there were just many people there throwing coins into the wooden coffers and praying with their hands clasped together and then bowing to the whatever there was. I cant remember what I saw cause it was covered with something? Anyway I didnt do the bowing thing cause it didnt feel right at all of course. Lillahitaala. We then left and headed for Asakusa-jinja, a smaller temple on the right. oh it:s not a temple, its a 17th-century Shinto shrine deidcated to the 2 fishermen brothers who netted the Kannon image and their over-lord. On the left was a (this is really frustrating I really find it so difficult to explain and now I totally agree - a picture says a thousand words) something were people hang the little wooden blocks saying what they wish for. There were some funny ones, some serious ones. Like God please let me pass my Math test which was in English, one which said please let my sick mom be ok, and one written by a famous Japanese newscaster according to Yohei. Yohei said that it is cutomary for all kids to go to the shrine and do the same thing before their entrance exams.

After that we headed for Ueno. Right... anyone who has watched Hana Yori Dango would know that Ueno Zoo was where Domyouji and Makino had their first commoners' date. but we headed for - a long street which I think used a wholesale market which was why it is known for the incredibly cheap stuff. We stopped at an electronics shop where I got my plug cause I couldn't use my laptop and external since the plugs here are different and that cost me around 3pounds. I saw ootoro, all sorts of fish, very expensive mushrooms, like 10pounds each or something, fruits, bags, shoes, ok just about everything there can be. We stopped for lunch at a street-side shop where I had unagi and anago with rice for only 500Yen. And it was a lot!! A very good and cheap meal. Then we quickly went to the Ueno Park where we took some pics and then headed for Shinjuku where I was to check out the language school that Sato-san's friend recommended.

I had to take a test - written and oral which took more about one and a half hours. Tomoyo had to leave for her job at 5pm. I was told that I knew quite a lot of grammar but because I can't use them well cause obviously I don't speak Japanese, I should go for Level 2. THe problem is, I'd be paying so much to learn the same things again!! That's just crap. So I said I will only join if I can enter level 3 and she said to come for a trial lesson on Wednesday. If the Sensei says it's ok, then I can join Level 3. I asked Yohei to help me call K-san who immediately said that he will come to TOkyo right away to see me. So we went back to TOmoyo's place to get K-san's gift and then chilled at McD a very hot McD cause the AC wasn't working - we were there for more than an hour, just talking about ourselves.

Yohei and I met kanagawa-san the gentleman papa and kakak met in Frankfurt at Shinjuku metro station. When we were wasting time at McD to wait for K-san to arrive, Yohei was already curious as to what kind of man he is because he told Yohei that he was taking the Shinkansen to Tokyo. According to Yohei, people do not usually take the Shinkansen saja2 cause its really expensive and it was at the last minute. So while we were waiting for K-san at Shinjuku Nichi-Guchi (west entrance), Yohei said Im sure hes going to ask me to decide where to have dinner. So we strolled around the HUGE underground city and saw some fancy restaurants. Yohei asked me what I wanted to eat and I said sushi and he said ok thats going to be expensive so maybe we should not directly say that you want to eat sushi. Anyway we saw a list showing the various floors of a department store and saw there were restaurants on the 13th and 14th floors. AND the top floor was a Japanese restaurant. And I said to Yohei.. ok I wanna eat there.

so we went back to Nichi-Guchi and started discussing between ourselves what K-san would look like. Yohei said he might have a briefcase or something because he might miss the last Shinkansen back to his house so he might have to spend the night in Tokyo. So we were looking out for a man with something in his hand. After a minute, I said lets not we are wasting our time. We expected him to call Yohei cause the west entrance had probably 20 ticket machines like the ones in the london underground in one straight line and there were just soooo many people. But somehow out of nowhere K-san appeared and straight away said hello to me when we]ve never met of course. Im really sorry but I havent got a clue where is the apostrophe sign on Tomoyos keyboard. After chatting for a couple of minutes, Yohei said shall we go somewhere to sit and like we guessed he asked what I wanted to eat and kind Yohei showed him the restaurants listings and we headed straight to the 14th floor. The lift doesnt go all the way to the 14th floor but only to the 13th and the escalator took us up to the 14th floor which solely belonged to the Japanese restaurant we ate at.

Masha Allah SUbhanallah. Even from the outside, I KNEW it was going to be expensive. Just from the number of people who greeted us, the interior, what the ladies wore (kimono of course) etc. We sat down and I got an English menu. I said I wanted to eat tempura and sushi and he got me the ermm (sumimasen, wasuremashita) something course which had both sushi and tempura and beef steak which he exchanged with fish for me and a whole lot of other stuff. There was so much food and the meal was 9000Yen = 42pounds! omg. have i said omg? Anyway, Yohei the brilliant translator translated of course to me that K-san was supposed to go to Beijing for the Olympics but he CANCELLED his trip BECAUSE I WAS COMING TO JAPAN. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? omg omg omg. I was going to die when I found out later that he was supposed to go for the opening ceremony where tickets cost between 10,000 to 15,000pounds!!!!

Signs he is super rich:

1- he cancelled his trip to watch the olympics because of me a person he has never met and whose dad and sister he has only met once
2- he took a shinkansen
3- he said when i go to his house, i can go to HIS onsen (hot springs) he owns an onsen
4- he said he travels about 20 times abroad a year
5- the title on his name card which i have yet to find out because Yohei hasnt told me what it is in English, all he said was that its a very high position. oh it's shachou - GM?
6- his house is the same area as the imperial familys second home!
7- he also owns a sushi restaurant, some real estate business, the roof company, many more. i have to ask yohei.
8- I said Kinou Shinjuku de kamera o kaimashita. 16000Yen - ichiban yasui kamera desu. I bought a camera from Shinjuku yesterday It was 16000 Yen , the cheapest camera. he replied, I wanted to get you a camera!!!!???? I have to double check with Yohei or was it I could have bought the camera for you... well something like that.

Ok there is really a lot to take in. He said I wont be bored staying at his house because his mom who is 83 has also traveled around the world. and it would be a great experience for me because I get to experience a typical Japanese lifestyle (more like a super rich one) and when I said one of the very few Japanese phrases I know which was Sadou o keikenshitemitaidesu = I would like to experience a tea ceremony - at the end of our meal just because well I do and because I could say it in Japanese myself, he took out his pen, wrote it down in his notebook and said Consider it done. Can you believe it? and he said he also have some kind of farm ermm I think its a vegetable something, he said I can follow him. I think he said if theres anything I want to do just let him know and I should consider it done.

At one point when he was on the phone, Yohei made this OMG face and I asked what is going on. He said K-san who was probably speaking to his wife just said that this Malaysian girl will be coming over to stay at our house and I will give up my room and sleep in the living room??? Ok this is the problem with me not understanding Japanese because... I depend too much on Yohei and so I dont really know whats going on.

Ok what else. Right. Papa, remember you said how he was going to Portugal cause his daughter was getting married? You got that right and the Portuguese lot will be coming to Japan next week and he said I should come by then and join them at his house and then they are using the one week Japan rail pass to go to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and I:m not too sure what else and he said I should join them. And I was like are you sure?? how can you decide for your daughter. he said dont worry they are very kind. they speak english and ill surely be fine. I was still very skeptical of course. BIG Q: so where do I sleep??? And then he called his daughter in Portugal who said ok she is going to think about it I guess. And we have yet to find out if she says I can join them or no.

Papa, he said he has been to Malaysia 20 times ok. That he has been to East Malaysia and Penang and that he likes Penang more than Hawaii ada ke patot?? He kept comparing Malaysia to Hawaii. oh maybe he was talking about the islands in Sabah or something. and then I told him that Penang is where my Jimoto is = hometown and I asked Yohei to explain to him about Hari Raya which falls on the 1st of Syawal after Ramadhan which is the major celebration in Malaysia and we would be honoured to have him join us then. This didnt take long from my part to explain to Yohei cause I told him all about Ramadhan etc while we were chilling at McD earlier - the McD which didnt have any AC for some reason. He didnt exactly reply but later on when the waitress said is she from Malaysia and K-san said yes have you been there. The waitress said Yes to Ipoh and somewhere else and I was shocked. AND K-san said shall we go in October?! and I was surprised.. so that means he understood my invitation。

At one point after we ordered whenYohei explained that I couldnt eat pork, chicken, beef and drink sake, (he was speaking in Japanese to K-san but I knew this was what he was telling him) Yohei told K-san that when we were at Senso-ji the temple in Asakusa earlier, I didn:t throw the money into the thing and put my hands together and bowed and wish for something in front of the statue? I think it was a statue - because of religion. And K-san probably said something like oh its just a tradition thing. Ok anyway, I have yet to clarify exactly what both parties really said about this. I was quite surprised that Yohei knew I didnt do it because of religion. While we were eating, K-san asked who was the person with my dad that he saw at Frankfurt because we looked the same. And so Yohei helped me explain that it was my sister and how kakak is going to Pakistan to teach as her dream is to open schools for the children in Pakistan. And I brilliantly mustered the courage to say: Watashino yume wa nihon de hatarakimasu. only to find out later that it should have been hataraku koto desu. And Yohei translated that K-san said oh that should be fine. I have a lot of friends working in the government. And I was stunned yet again and just smiled and continued eating.

When we left, he took the same JR train as I did and it was really funny trying to communicate and the guy who sat in front of us was just smiling the whole time. Hazukashikatta desu. When I got back and told Tomoyo the dinner was 9000Yen each, she almost fainted and said I am so lucky. She's lived in Japan for 20years and I'm going to get to experience all the things she hasn't had the chance to experience. Syukur Alhamdulillah. Syukur.